Reconstructing Joseph Smith Genome

$8,705
of $15,000 goal

I have a PhD in Genetics and Biomolecular Sciences from the University of Pavia, Italy and I have been working on the DNA of the Joseph Smith Jr. family as a side project off and on for nearly 15 years. This information has been used for genealogical and historical purposes in order to answer questions pertaining to his ancestry and posterity. I have published my results in articles that are available on the site http://www.JosephSmithDNA.com. At that time I had resources available through the laboratory I was working for, but I am now an independent researcher with my own consulting company (http://www.GeneticGenealogyConsultant.com). My objective is to test a limited, but carefully selected number of living descendants of Joseph Smith Jr., founder of the Mormon movement, utilizing new technologies that have become available over the past few years. The results of these tests will be used to reconstruct a more detailed genetic profile of Joseph Smith based on autosomal DNA. I hope to use this information to address more complex alleged paternity cases that have been historically linked to Joseph Smith, as well as adding a genomic dimension by compiling his genetic profile, which was previously only partially available. The company that I will use is 23andMe (http://www.23andMe.com) and each test will cost $99 plus S&H. I will use their services because over the years I feel like they have been the most consistent with the quality of data and analysis tools available. If you would like to help with this project, please donate something to it. Thank you. Dr. Ugo A. Perego

Hello everyone. Here is another update. The scientific version of the paper on Joseph Smith/Josephine is near completion and I hope to have it ready for submission some time in November. We just ran a few more analysis to strengthen our conclusions. I am also continuing data collection and analysis with regard to the paternal and maternal origin of JS through the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA respectively.

Excited about presenting tomorrow afternoon at the 14th Italian Federation of Life Sciences on my work on Joseph Smith DNA. Also, I am making progresses with two publications, one for a humanities and one for a science journal. The next step is to work on some more genetic ancestry using the Y chromosome and mirochondrial DNA I have reconstructed for JS as well as assembling his nuclear DNA profile. Donations are still welcome and very much appreciated for this project as I am working as an independent researcher on it. Thank you!

LIVE! Attending the Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Family Reunion in Nauvoo as a family friend. There are a few people here I would really like to collect a DNA sample as part of reconstructing and preserving Joseph Smith's genome. It is good to be here.

As many of you already know, the presentation at the Mormon History Association in Utah was well received. The research into Josephine Lyon's biological paternity showed that her DNA was shared with other Lyons and not with the Smith family. Genealogical and genetic data is now available at http://www.JosephSmithDNA.com/Josephine_Lyon, together with a white paper explaining the background to the study. Two papers about this project are in progress. One will be submitted to a journal on Mormon history and another one to a scientific journal. A publication in a scientific journal will require a strict peer-review process, but it will provide more visibility and credibility. Others may benefit from the scientific approach introduced with the Joseph Smith/Josephine Lyon case. However, publications in scientific journals are expensive if we want the article to be open source (available for free to everyone) and not behind a pay wall (as many scientific journals require nowadays). The estimated fees are in the range of 3 to 4 thousands dollars.

The link www.JosephSmithDNA.com. above doesn't work, and I think it's because of the period at the end that is connected to the link. Wanted to let people know it does work if you type it in your search bar without that period at the end.

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TA

$25

Terry Ayles

5 months ago

In an email you sent me earlier in the year you wrote that you are "working two separate articles that are taken from my 2017 Fairmormon presentation. The first one focuses on the title of my presentation, What does the Church believe about evolution? and the second one talks about updates on the Book of Mormon and DNA Studies gospel topic essay, which I helped in compiling." Is it possible to know when these presentations will be available? Will they go on your website?

The link www.JosephSmithDNA.com. above doesn't work, and I think it's because of the period at the end that is connected to the link. Wanted to let people know it does work if you type it in your search bar without that period at the end.